[ 2012-05-20 ]

Energy Minister pays working visit to Western Region
Accra, May 20, GNA - Work is progressing steadily
on various projects initiated by the Government of
Ghana through the Ministry of Energy to ensure
that the country's energy requirements are met.

The Minister for Energy, Dr. Joe Oteng-Adjei, who
inspected some of the projects in the Western
Region early this week, was satisfied with the
progress of work so far and expressed the hope
that by the end of this year, the country's power
generation, transmission and distribution capacity
will improve tremendously.

The minister was at Aboadze, where he inspected
work on the Takoradi Thermal Power Station
Expansion Project (T3 Project), which is expected
to add 132 megawatts of electricity to the
national grid.

He also visited the Domunli Gas and Power enclave
where plans are far advanced to build two 450
megawatts power plants that will feed on processed
gas from Atuabo to generate electricity.

The minister as well inspected on-going
construction works on the Electricity Company of
Ghana's new Substation “D” at the Takoradi
Harbour.

Dr Oteng-Adjei's tour took him to Suazo and
Ansokrom in the Jomoro District, Banso and Asonsi
in the Nzema East Municipality, Adzan in the
Ellembele District and Simpa Nkwata and Kofikrom
in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality, which are all
benefiting from a 0 million rural electrification
project being undertaken by Weldy Lamont/TMG, a
US-Ghanaian collaboration.

So far, design drawings for 1292 towns in 17
districts in the Western Region under first survey
works by the contractor have been approved by the
ECG for construction and out of this number, the
state agency has issued work orders on 479 towns
for award packages to the contractor for which
works have commenced in 402 towns.

The minister told journalists that the government
has provided funding for the replacement of all
obsolete equipment within the country's power
transmission system, adding that when this is
done, it would bring great relief to Ghanaians.

He said the government was very much aware of the
significance of power supply to the growth and
long term planning by commerce and industry.

Kick-starting his tour with a meeting with heads
of decentralized departments, workers and some
members of the Jomoro District Assembly, he urged
the people of Jomoro to ensure that they take
advantage of various projects being embarked on in
their Districts.

Dr Oteng-Adjei said the installation of a power
generation plant in the area, which will feed on
processed gas from Atuabo, will attract industries
to the locality to provide jobs for the people.

He called on them, especially the youth, to
develop themselves in readiness for the
opportunities that will become available.

At Aboadze, the Minister commissioned a new office
building to house VRA officials who have mostly
been working in temporary offices and addressing a
durbar ahead of the commissioning, the he
reiterated the government's commitment to
increasing the country's electricity generation
capacity to 5000 MW in the medium term.

He said government was very much aware that for
economic development to take place, the
fundamental requirement was reliable supply of
power.

He thanked the chiefs and people of Aboadze for
releasing their land when there was the need to
put up the thermal plant.

Source - GNA

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